Performing Windows 10 in-place upgrades with ConfigMgr TP3

As described in the previous article here on WindowsNetworking.com, System Center Configuration Manager is a member of the Microsoft System Center suite of management solutions that is widely used in mid- and large enterprises for deploying operating systems and applications, ensuring compliance, and managing servers, desktops, laptops and mobile devices. While the current versions of Configuration Manager 2012 SP2 and Configuration Manager 2012 R2 SP1 can be used for performing in-place upgrades to Windows 10 for computing devices running earlier versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, the next version of Configuration Manager (variously referred to as ConfigMgr vNext and ConfigMgr 2016) makes such upgrades even easier, and that's what this present article is about.

Once again I've asked my colleague Chris Shilt to provide us with a step-by-step walkthrough for performing in-place upgrades to Windows 10 using ConfigMgr vNext, similar to the walkthrough he provided for the previous article which showed how to do an in-place upgrade to Windows 10 using ConfigMgr 2012. For the purposes of this present article Chris has used the latest version of ConfigMgr vNext which is called System Center Configuration Manager Technical Preview 3. If you'd like to follow along and perform Chris's walkthrough you will first need ConfigMgr TP3, and you can download it from this page on the TechNet Evaluation Center. For more information on the improvements to ConfigMgr vNext in the various Technical Previews that have been released you can see this TechNet page. And if you want to read more about the new features specifically introduced in TP3 you should read this post on the System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog.

To introduce Chris again, he's a Premier Field Engineer (MFE) with Microsoft and has been working with System Center Configuration Manager in one iteration or another for over 12 years. Prior to working at Microsoft, he managed software updates for a major command with the U.S. Air Force. I previously worked with Chris as the Series Editor for the free ebook Microsoft System Center Software Update Management Field Experience (Microsoft Press, 2015) which he co-authored with Andre Della Monica, Russ Rimmerman and Rushi Faldu and which you can download from this page on the Microsoft Virtual Academy site. Let's now hear from Chris as he explains what's involved in performing in-place upgrades to Windows 10 using ConfigMgr TP3.

Introduction

In my last article, I showed you how easy it is to deploy Windows 10 with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. With this article I hope to show you that the process is even easier with the new version of System Center Configuration Manager. Read on to see how to create and deploy a Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence using the latest version of Configuration Manager.

I have previously copied the Windows 10 installation media to a network share. On the Data Source page, enter the network path to where the installation source files are located. Click Next to continue:

One month after you upgrade to Windows 10, your previous version of Windows will be automatically deleted from your PC. However, if you need to free up disk space, and you're confident that your files and settings are where you want them to be in Windows 10, you can safely delete it yourself. Keep in mind that you'll be deleting your Windows.old folder, which contains files that give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows. Deleting your previous version of Windows can't be undone. Here is the procedure:

Go to Start, enter Settings in the search box, and then select Settings.

Select System then Storage then This PC and then scroll down the list and select Temporary files.

Under Previous version of Windows, select Delete previous versions and then select Delete.

Conclusion

The latest version of Configuration Manager provides the best support going forward for Windows 10, so start planning now if your organization is planning on supporting the OS. The good thing is that you'll be able to perform an in-place upgrade from System Center 2012 Configuration Manager to the current branch of the new System Center Configuration Manager product. Check out the TechNet Library for the latest on what's new with System Center Technical Preview 3 here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn997272.aspx.

Post Views: 1,003

Featured Links

Read Next

Mitch Tulloch

Mitch Tulloch is a widely recognized expert on Windows Server and cloud technologies who has written more than a thousand articles and has authored or been series editor for over 50 books for Microsoft Press. He is a twelve-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award in the technical category of Cloud and Datacenter Management.

Latest Podcast

Featured Freeware

Recommended

Follow Us

Performing Windows 10 in-place upgrades with ConfigMgr TP3

TECHGENIX

TechGenix reaches millions of IT Professionals every month, and has set the standard for providing free technical content through its growing family of websites, empowering them with the answers and tools that are needed to set up, configure, maintain and enhance their networks.